Business Licensing & Operations in Bulloch County, GA (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Bulloch County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Operating an adult entertainment establishment in unincorporated Bulloch County without a license is unlawful under Sec. 4.5-26(a). Sec. 4.5-30 also bars locating one within 1,000 feet of residential land, churches, schools, parks or another adult establishment, and it can only be sited as a conditional use in the general or highway commercial districts.
Bulloch County Adult Entertainment License
Significant RestrictionsBulloch County Code §§ 4.5-26(a), 4.5-30
It shall be unlawful for any person, association, partnership or corporation to engage in, conduct or carry on, in or upon any premises within unincorporated areas of the county any adult entertainment establishment as defined in this article, without a license so to do. ... No adult entertainment establishment ... or use restricted hereunder shall be located:(1)Within 1,000 feet of any parcel ...
Tattoo & Body Modification
Anyone operating a tattoo, piercing or microblading studio in unincorporated Bulloch County must first obtain a body art studio permit under Code § 8-168, and every artist needs a separate body artist certification under § 8-170. The health authority inspects studios at least twice a year, and violations can draw up to a $1,000 fine and 60 days in jail.
Bulloch County Body Art Studio Rules
Significant RestrictionsBulloch County Code §§ 8-164, 8-168, 8-186
The legal authority for this article is O.C.G.A. ch. 31-40. This article incorporates rules and regulations adopted by the Georgia Department of Public Health and published in Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 511-3-8-.01 et seq. ... No person shall operate a body art studio without first obtaining a body art studio permit in accordance with the timeframes specified in this article. ... No permit shall b...
Tobacco Retail License
A new tobacco shop, vape shop or hookah lounge in unincorporated Bulloch County cannot open within one mile of an existing one, or within 300 feet of a school, day care, church, park, hospital or similar place where children gather. Indoor smoking is banned except in hookah lounges, and sales to anyone under 21 are prohibited.
Bulloch County Vape and Tobacco Shop Zoning
Significant RestrictionsBulloch County Zoning Ordinance § 1446
(a)No new establishment shall be located within one mile of an existing establishment measured across a straight line from property line to property line. ... (b)These establishments shall not be located within 300 feet, measured property line to property line, from a school (public or private), family day care home, child-care facility, youth center, community center, recreational facility, pa...
Secondhand Dealers
Bulloch County Code Sec. 4.5-57 defines a secondhand dealer as anyone whose principal business is purchasing, storing, selling or exchanging secondhand personal property, exempting charities and used clothing or furniture resale. Goods bought outright must be held at least five days under Sec. 4.5-71(b) before resale, and the same license article covers precious-metals and gem dealers.
Bulloch County Secondhand Dealer License
Significant RestrictionsBulloch County Code §§ 4.5-57, 4.5-71(b)
Secondhand dealer means any person, whether as owner, agent or employee, whose principal business is that of purchasing, storing, selling, or exchanging, and receiving secondhand personal property of any kind or description. However, any person, whether as owner, agent or employee, whose principal business is the purchase and resale of clothing, furniture, or the resale of goods that are donate...
Pawnbrokers
A pawnbroker or pawnshop cannot operate in unincorporated Bulloch County without a regulatory license under Sec. 4.5-60. Goods taken in pawn, where the pawnbroker holds full title, must be held for at least 30 days under Sec. 4.5-71(a) before they can be sold, transferred or shipped, giving owners and law enforcement a window to reclaim stolen property.
Bulloch County Pawnbroker License Rules
Significant RestrictionsBulloch County Code §§ 4.5-60, 4.5-71(a)
It shall be unlawful for a pawnbroker, pawnshop, secondhand dealer, or dealer in precious metals and gems to engage in such business within the unincorporated area of the county without first obtaining a regulatory license pursuant to this article. If a person engages in more than one of these types of business, only one license and one license fee shall be required, but the license shall state...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Unincorporated Bulloch County flatly prohibits auto sales or auto repair as a home occupation. Section 1426(c) of the Zoning Ordinance lists the trade among uses barred from operating out of a residence, alongside restaurants, animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, funeral homes, retail or wholesale shops, and machine shops or manufacturing.
Bulloch County Bars Home Auto Repair
Heavy RestrictionsBulloch County Zoning Ordinance § 1426(c)
(c)The following uses are prohibited as home occupations: auto sales or auto repair, restaurants, animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, funeral homes, retail or wholesale shops, machine shops or manufacturing.
Towing Companies
Unincorporated Bulloch County zoning treats towing and wrecker service as separate from junk and salvage yards, but Section 1428(k) requires any tow operator that stores and resells used parts, or dismantles and abandons inoperable vehicles, to meet the same siting standards as a licensed salvage or junk yard.
Bulloch County Towing Business Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsBulloch County Zoning Ordinance § 1428(k)
(k)Towing and wrecker service businesses are a separate type of business from salvage yards and junk yards. Towing and wrecker service businesses that store and resell used vehicle parts or dismantle, demolish, and abandon inoperable vehicles shall comply with all county ordinances that are applicable to salvage and junk yards.
All Bulloch County ordinances
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